Trojans secure Premier survival with victory

Rugby League - Thornhill Trojans v Selby Warriors at Overthorpe Park, Thornhill. (This was a first v second final league match of season. Whoever should win, would win the Division Three title. (Trojans win 40-14 and win the title). Jack Stead makes a run. (d23051174)

Published:06:00Friday 22 March 2013

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Thornhill Trojans secured their Pennine League Premier Division survival thanks to a 22-0 win at Queensbury.

The original game had been abandoned earlier is the season and ordered to be replayed.

Thornhill showed their battling qualities as they travelled with 14 players and then saw Jake Wilson injured early on, with the only available substitute Jack Stead taking to the field, leaving no further interchanges.

Stead spearheaded Thornhill’s challenge and was named man-of-the-match, capping a brilliant display with a try just before the end.

Thornhill had Jake Ratcliffe sin-binned for dissent after 25 minutes but the visitors stuck to their task.

Danny Ratcliffe switched play to the short side and Bret Simmonds held off a tackler and forced his way over for the opening try.

Minutes later Simmonds was on the end of a passing move to score his second and the Trojans led 8-0 at half-time.

Darrell Olpherts went on a storming run early in the second half and bounced off several tacklers to crash over for another unconverted try.

Queensbury had two tries disallowed before Thornhill sealed a vital victory with two tries in the final 10 minutes.

Danny Ratcliffe raced down the slope and opened the defence before sending Rob Kelly storming to the line. Andrew Bates converted.

In the final minute, Stead broke from acting half-back and darted over near the corner for an unconverted try as the Trojans capped a marvellous performance with an away win.